Red Arrow aims to revive slashed Greyhound routes

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Red Arrow appears to be preparing to help revive some of the passenger bus routes that Greyhound is eliminating in northern and central Alberta.

Greyhound said last week it will cut service to a dozen outlying communities in Alberta. (John Woods/The Canadian Press)

The Calgary-based transporter said Thursday that it's looking to forge partnerships with other carriers that would "connect Alberta communities," and that it could assist current or new companies offering travel on routes connected to its existing lines.

It didn't specify what routes it was looking to link up with. Currently, Red Arrow provides service between Calgary, Red Deer, Edmonton and Fort McMurray. It will begin service between Calgary and Lethbridge in the fall.

Greyhound announced last week that it will cut bus routes across northern and central Alberta in the wake of the province's move to deregulate passenger service.

A dozen routes in central and northern Alberta will be stopped on Oct. 24, including from Edmonton to Drayton Valley, Slave Lake, Elk Point, Peace River and Cold Lake.

Other cuts include the route from Red Deer to Rocky Mountain House, Peace River to Grande Prairie and Calgary to Alsack, Sask.

Civic leaders in some of those communities expressed concern their towns and cities would be cut off from tourism and their residents blocked from accessing services in Edmonton like medical appointments. The province contended that smaller carriers should be able to pick up the routes and run them profitably.

A few small carriers have already said they plan to start service on Grehound's discontinued routes.